RHS Wisley

As luck would have it, a small but enthusiastic group of us chose the perfect day to visit the wonderful RHS garden at Wisley.  So many flowers, shrubs and trees were at their peak of perfection that it was hard to imagine that there could possibly be a better time to visit this delightful place.

For me, the highlight of the garden was the fabulous Wisteria Tunnel dripping with beautiful white, lilac and purple blossoms – a truly breathtaking sight.  Other treats were the gorgeous orchids and tropical plants in the Glasshouse, the stunning pink, cream and white rhododendrons and azaleas and a zingy bed of bright orange geums, all looking their very best in the May sunshine.  Let’s not forget the serene tranquillity of the Jellicoe Canal in front of the Old Laboratory; now that the RHS has upgraded their lab and moved it to a different part of the garden the original building (completed in 1916 and very ‘Lutyens’ in style) has now been converted to an interesting exhibition space.

Oh, and a happy surprise was seeing a fox, tame enough to be sharing a visitor’s lunch beside one of the lakes – a sight you don’t expect to see!

How fitting it was that we spent 8th May 2026 – the day we celebrated the 81st anniversary of VE Day and also the 100th birthday of our dear Sir David Attenborough – immersing ourselves in the peace and harmony of this special place and delighting in the glories of nature.

If you haven’t been to Wisley lately I thoroughly recommend it –  it’s a feast for the senses and a joy to the heart!

Many thanks to Sue Marsh for organising this most enjoyable outing and to Christine Fowler for steering us so expertly and patiently through the day.

Report by Val Belton